[Updated: May 11] Vivo joins Google, Samsung to offer 3 years of Android OS updates for future premium X series devices

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on May 10, 2021) follows:

For a long time, Apple has had a one-up over Android when it comes to updates and support. While many Android OEMs support their devices for at least 2 years, Apple supports its devices for up to 5 years.

Understandably, the competition in Android’s camp was bound to come to this aspect as well as new devices become ever more powerful and capable.

Modern smartphones remain very relevant and usable for many years down the line and this has pushed OEMs to try and support them for longer.

Not too long ago, we saw Samsung come out to promise up to 3 major Android updates to its flagship devices and a number of devices in its mid-range A-series of devices.

Already, Google supports its Pixel devices for this long and others like OnePlus are reportedly contemplating similar programs. It was only a matter of time before other OEMs followed suit and today, Vivo is committing to this.

Yujian Shi, SVP and CTO at Vivo, has been quoted in a statement, confirming that the company plans to provide 3 years of major Android OS upgrades and security updates for selected models launching after July 2021.

“Featuring top-of-the-line hardware, the X series flagship phones are built to last – and we want to make sure that our customers get software support that lives up to their expectations.”

“We always innovate with the user in mind. With this pledge, we are making a promise to our customers that they will be able to enjoy a premium smartphone experience for an extended period and continue to benefit from the latest software features.”
Source

Important to note is that, this 3 years updates to Vivo devices applies to users of the said series in the European, Australian, and Indian markets, at least for now.

It is encouraging to see more and more OEMs hopping on board this trend as this will, eventually, lead to a more stable and mature ecosystem. The fact that this also has the potential to reduce e-waste is a bonus.

We can only hope to see a similar commitment from other Android OEMs and have Android compete favorably with Apple’s iOS on this front.

IST 10:40 am: A Vivo brand ambassador has confirmed that the company’s current X-series of devices, the Vivo X60 family, is eligible for this 3 years of updates. More on that here.

NOTE: We have these and many more Vivo stories in our dedicated Vivo section so stay tuned for more.

PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.